In my thesis at The Univeristy of Szeged, Hungary, I constructed a new motivational model. Breaking with the tradition of hierarchical theories of motivation (like Maslow's hierarchy of needs), this theory of motivation based on the fractal-like qualities of basic motives, and utilizes such well-known motivation theories like Freud's, Jung's, or Gray's.
An integrated view of human motivation is still under construction in the field of psychology. It is an open discussion, what are the defintions of motives and drives, what could be some basic motives, how do they connect, how do the relate to behavior, emotions, and personality, and how motivation occurs. Freud, Jung, Maslow, Elliot and Church, Gray, Deci and Ryan, Sidney Blatt are only some of the most important theory makers in this field. At the same time, I could not find a model to teach at my communication courses. Some of the theories are not proved or even confuted (see Maslow's Mistakes at academia.edu), and the proved ones like Gray's or Deci & Ryan's I did not find specific enough. As I needed a lightweight but still rich-in-detail theory for my students, I developed a motivaton model called Cataysis.
I defined motives as energetic principles that integrate biological, social and psychic processes of the individual into a unified system which consciously or unconsciously shapes inward (attention, perception, intuition) and outward (emotions, thinking, behaviour) information.
Catalysis model - development of a motivation system
Many of the existing motivational models assume two different forces - one which resolves boundaries and results similarity, and the other which creates boundaries and results differences. These are the two conflicting and complementary forces which spans the endpoints of Catalysis model as well. On one end of the range, individual wants to maintain integrity (Boundaries +), while on the other end she wants to dissolve into a bigger unity (Boundaries -). Each form of life try to find an equilibrum between these two forces which allow them to succesfully adapt to the environment in every moment: this is the continually changing point of equilibrum (Harmony). These three basic motives relate to communication theory of aggression (Boundaries +), assertiveness (Harmony), passivity (Boundaries -), to the BIS-BAS model of Gray, as toward the end of (Boundaries +) behaviour activation, while toward the end of (Boundaries -) behaviour inhibition takes place.
Between (Boundaries +) and (Harmony), there are two more basic motivation families: to seek information from the environment - like novelty seeking, curiosity, discovery etc. - called (Perception +), and to change the environment - like control, power, success etc. - called (Action +). Between (Boundaries -) and (Harmony), the two other motivation families: to seek internal information - like intuition, rest, fantasy etc. - called (Perception -), and to change the individual itself - like thinking, reflexion, development etc. - called (Action -). These basic motives are related to the four cognitive functions of Jung: sensation, feeling, intuition, and thinking, respectively.
